Hot Chocolate on a Stick with Marshmallows

Hot Chocolate on a Stick and Home Made Marshmallows

 

It’s really cold outside in Michigan today.  We’ve been blessed with unusually warm weather, but today 19 degrees, wind chill factor makes it below zero outside.

So…..Hot Chocolate on a stick with home made Marshmallows (for my good friend Sue)!

I make this the other day for a demonstration at one of my favorite Hardware Stores, Rylees Ace Hardware in Grand Rapids, Mi (just a little plug for ya!) They have the best house wares department that you have ever seen.  My husband, who is my favorite engineer, said “how are they hot?”  I told him you dunk them in hot milk!  I love the man, but really……

We used the “bagged” marshmallows here, but I’ve included my recipe for homemade marshmallows – easy to do, and so much better!  Try it and let me know!

 

 

 

Hot Chocolate on a stick!

 

1 pound semi sweet chocolate (16 ounces)

1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Large Marshmallows

Wooden coffee stirrer or bamboo sticks

Cellophane gift bags

 

Butter an 8x8 baking dish and lay a sheet of parchment paper on the buttered surface. (You can use pan spray if you like)  Melt chocolate, butter and condensed milk over a double boiler, - simmering water – until the chocolate is completely melted, stir the mixture frequently.

 

Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the baking dish, and use a spatula to scrape the bowl clean.  Level the fudge with an offset spatula and place in the refrigerator until the fudge sets, about an hour.  Cut into squares..

 

Pierce a coffee stirrer/bamboo stick, or other decorative “stick that is heat proof” through a marshmallow and then halfway through a piece of fudge.  Place in a cellophane bag.  Using a hole punch, punch a hole through the top and insert a gift tag.  Write the following instructions

 

To use:

Heat up a mug of milk and dunk the fudge and marshmallow into the milk until the fudge has completely dissolved

You can use anytime of milk that you want, or go a little bit decadent with half and half or whipping cream! 

 

For Special Occasions I say go big or go home!

Marshmallows

 

 

2 ½ tablespoons unflavored gelatin

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

Cornstarch for dusting

 

 

Combine gelatin and ½ cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment.  Let it stand 30 minutes

 

Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup salt and ½ cup of water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved.  Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.

 

Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high.  Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees (firm ball stage).  Immediately remove pan from heat.

 

With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup into the softened gelatin.  Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes.  Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.

 

Spray an 8 x 12 inch pan with cooking oil, and then generously dust with corn starch.  Pour marshmallow mixture into pan.  YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME TO DO THIS.  IT’S LIKE MAKING MARSHMALLOW TREATS!  REALLY STICKY.

 

Dust with cornstarch; let stand overnight uncovered to dry out.

 

Dip a pizza cutter in corn starch and cut.  Dip in corn starch with each cutting as to prevent sticking.